Rain boot



May 15, 1962 M. SCHWARTZ RAIN BOOT Filed April 14, 1961 INVENTOR. MACK SCHWARTZ Unite rates.

Filed Apr. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 103,075 Claims. ((31. 36-72) This invention relates to a rain boot, and more particularly, to a plastic rain boot adapted to be worn by women over high heel shoes.

The present invention is directed to a rain boot made from flexible impervious light weight plastic material. A pair of rain boots made in accordance with the present invention are capable of being folded for disposition into a small carrying case adapted to be disposed within the purse of a woman. Accordingly, the rain boots of the present invention are capable of being readily carried about by a woman for use during rainy weather.

The rain boot of the present invention is provided with a hole in a heel portion through which a heel on a high heel shoe extends. The periphery'of the hole in the heel portion of the boot is elastic in nature so that the boot will accommodate various sized heels on womens shoes.

The outsole of the boot is provided with a peripheral flange to which the lower edge of the upper is secured. A reinforcement layer is provided over the upper adjacent to the peripheral flange and an insole overlies a portion of the reinforcement layer. The reinforcement layer assures that the boot will be water-tight and provides additional support in the area of greatest wear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel rain boot.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel rain boot having a reinforced joint between the upper and the outsole.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel rain boot having an expandable aperture adjacent a heel portion which does not interfere with the insertion of a heel through said aperture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawing a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 7

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the boot of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the boot of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 33 in FIGURE 2, with the illustration being reversed 180.

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged fragment of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the heel opening adjacent the heel portion of the boot shown in FIGURE 1. I H

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 in FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a rain boot designated generally as 10.

The rain boot 10 comprises an upper 12 made from a plastic material. The plastic material is preferably opaque and flexible in nature so that the rain boot 10 may be readily folded into a compact disposition for disposition within a Womans purse.

The upper 12 is provided with opposed mating edges to which tapes of a zipper 14 are secured by means of a heat sealed joint.

The boot 10 is provided with an outsole 16 made from a plastic material. The exterior surface of the outsole 16 ice may be provided with knurling if desired. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 4, the peripheral edge of the outsole 16 has a thickness greater than the remainder of the outsole 16. The outsole 16 is provided with a peripheral flange 18 extending therefrom at a point substantially equidistant from the upper and lower surfaces of the peripheral edge of the outsole 16. The flange 18 cooperates With the outsole 16 to define a locating shoulder 20 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 4.

The lowermost edge of the upper 12 is in abutting contact with the shoulder 20 and overlies the flange 18. i

The flange 18 is secured to the lowermost edge of the upper 12 by a heat sealed joint. A reinforcement layer 22 overlies the lowermost edge of the upper 12 and is in abutting contact with the shoulder 20. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, the reinforcement layer 22 has a width substantially greater than the Width of the flange 18. The reinforcement layer 22 is secured to the upper 12 by a heat sealed joint. Preferably, the heat sealed joint between the upper 12, flange 18 and the reinforcement layer 22 is provided at the same time.

It will be noted that the height of the shoulder 20 corresponds with the combined thickness of the upper 12 and and the reinforcement layer 22. An insole 24 overlies the uppermost surface of the outsole 16. The periphery of the insole 24- is secured to the reinforcement layer 22 by a heat sealed joint at a point intermediate the shoulder 2t and the outer periphery of the flange 18.

The location of the reinforcement layer 22 provides additional support at the area of greatest wear and aids in providing a waterproof seal between the upper 12 and the outsole 16.

The heel portion of the upper 12 is provided with a heel receiving hole 26. The edges of the upper 12 defining the hole 26 are gathered as shown more clearly in FIGURE 5 and folded inwardly so as to form a loop 28. An elastic thread 30 is disposed within the loop 28. It will be obvious thata plurality of such threads may be provided within the loop 28 if desired. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 6, the edges of'the upper 12 defining the hole 26 are secured to the inner surface. of the upper 12 by means of a heat sealed joint 32.

When the boot 10 of the present invention is being worn, the heel of the shoe extends through the hole 26. Since the elastic thread 30 is disposed within a closed loop, the thread 30 does not come in contact with the heel of the shoe. Also, the elastic thread 30 cannot interfere with the facile insertion of the heel through the hole 26. The heat sealed joint 32 eliminates the use of threads and thereby increases the aesthetic appearance of the boot 10 of the present invention. As a heel is inserted through the hole 26, the elastic thread 311 permits expansion of the hole so as to accommodate various sized heels.

When a heel is extending through the hole 26, the elastic thread 30 causes the heel portion of the upper 12 to snugly grip the heel. In this manner, entry of Water between the heel and the heel portion of the upper 12 is prevented.

The use of heat sealed joints throughout the construction of the boot 10 enables the same to be manufactured more rapidly while at the same time assuring water-tight seals. In addition, the absence of threads adds to the aesthetic appearance of the boot while it is being worn.

As used hereinafter, the term plastic is to be interpreted as embracing synthetic resins as well as rubber. While the insole 24 is heat sealed to the outsole 16 and the reinforcement layer 22, it will be appreciated that the insole 24 may be adhesively secured thereto.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim: g

1. A rain boot'comprising a fiexible'plastic upper, an outsole having a peripheral flange, the lowermost edge of said upper overlying and being secured to said flange, a

reinforcement layer secured to said lowermost edge of said upper, and an insole secured to said outsole, the peripheral edge of said insole overlying a portion of and being secured to said reinforcement layer.

2. A rain boot in accordance with claim 1 wherein said upper is provided with inturned edges in a heel portion thereof, said inturned edges defining a heel receiving hole, said inturned edges being secured to said upper so as to define a loop, andv an elastic thread within said loop.

3. A rain boot comprising a flexible plastic upper, said upper having inturned edges in a heel portion thereof, said inturned edges being secured to said upper by a heat sealed joint so as to form a closed loop, an elastic thread within said loop, said loop defining a heel receiving hole in the heel portion of said upper.

, 4. A rain boot comprising a flexible plastic upper, a zipper along a front portion of said upper and extending from an upper edge thereof, a heel portion of said upper having a heel receiving hole therein, an outsole, the lowermost edge of said upper being disposed over a flange on said outsole, inabutting contact with a shoulder on said outsole, a reinforcement layer disposed over said lowenmost edge of said upper, said reinforcement layer being in abutting contact with said shoulder, the height of said shoulder corresponding to the combined thickness of said upper and said reinforcement layer, said upper being secured to said flange and said reinforcement layer with a water-tight seal, and an insole overlying the uppermost surface of said outsole, said insole being secured to said uppermost surface of said outsole.

5. A rain boot in accordance with claim 4 wherein the water-tight seal between said upper, flange and reinforce ment layer is a heat sealed joint, and the peripheral edge of said insole overlying and being secured to a portion of said reinforcement layer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS,

Hardman Sept. 20, 1953 

